English Royalty. The youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, she was only 4 when her father died. Called "Baby," she was doted upon by her grief-stricken mother, and served as Victoria's companion and secretary. Victoria saw no reason for Beatrice to marry, preferring her to remain at her side. But Beatrice fell in love with Prince Henry of Battenberg, the handsomest prince in Europe. Victoria gave them permission to marry on the condition that the couple make their home with her. They married on July 23, 1885 at St. Mildred's Church, Whippingham, Isle of Wight. The queen created Henry a Knight of the Garter and appointed him governor of the Isle of Wight. They lived with Victoria at Windsor and Balmoral, and had four children: Alexander, Victoria, Leopold, and Maurice. Her husband, an officer of the British Army, went to fight in the Ashanti War, and died of malaria in 1896, leaving Beatrice a widow at 38. She took over as governor of the Isle of Wight, and left her mother to live at Carisbrooke Castle. Beatrice was a talented pianist, and had some of her compositions published. At her mother's request, Beatrice took on the labor of editing the queen's diaries for publication. The task would take 30 years. In 1919, George V created Beatrice a Grand Dame Cross of the British Empire. She died at her wartime home, Brantridge Park, at the age of 87. (bio by: Kristen Conrad)